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Mental exercises may be more effective than drugs at staving off cognitive declines, new research shows. A review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found hormone therapy and anti-inflammatories designed to help prevent cognitive decline in older patients were associated with worse cognitive function while other drugs failed to offer any clear benefit. However, cognitive exercises addressing reasoning, speed and memory proved beneficial for older adults, researchers said.

French researchers found people whose vocations require shift work may face elevated risk of memory and thinking problems. Working nonstandard hours for more than a decade was linked to the equivalent of 6.5 additional years of age-related cognition declines, and the effect lasts even after workers return to normal schedules, according to the findings. Data were reported in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

U.S. researchers found that two pain drugs, Pfizer's arthritis treatment Celebrex and generic painkiller naproxen, do not prevent mental deterioration in older people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease, contrary to previous findings. A medical expert, however, said the timing of the treatments might influence efficacy and that studying the development of Alzheimer's in younger patients might provide more clues to the link between the drugs and cognitive decline.

U.S. researchers found that two pain drugs, Pfizer's arthritis treatment Celebrex and generic painkiller naproxen, do not prevent mental deterioration in older people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease, contrary to previous findings. A medical expert, however, said the timing of the treatments might influence efficacy and that studying the development of Alzheimer's in younger patients might provide more clues to the link between the drugs and cognitive decline.

Recent studies suggest lead exposure may have long-term effects and could contribute to mental decline in older people. Researchers found the higher the lifetime dose of lead, the poorer the performance of certain mental functions. Yet, other experts say it is too early to link age-related cognitive decline with lead exposure.